In the early morning of September 18, 2024, 20-year-old Roland Scott LittleOwl, a Native American man, was shot and killed in an alley in the 2500 block of 17th Avenue South in South Minneapolis. The shooting occurred at about 4:40 a.m.; LittleOwl died at the scene and another man was seriously injured in the same incident.

Authorities say this killing was the opening attack in a series of shootings that terrorized the Phillips neighborhood that day. Investigators identified a suspect, 37-year-old Joshua Anthony Jones of Bemidji, who was later linked to additional fatal and nonfatal shootings in the same several-block area less than 12 hours after LittleOwl’s death. Though the shootings happened near homeless encampments, officials reported the victims did not appear to be unhoused and that the suspect likely knew the people targeted. The motive remains under investigation.

If anyone has information about Roland Scott LittleOwl, his movements that morning, or contacts in that part of South Minneapolis, please come forward.